Check out Cori Maass’s Artwork

Cori, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist. I am originally from Thousand Oaks, California (a suburb north of LA). I started out in design and marketing and had always focused my energies on business strategy instead of on the general creative process.

When I moved to Atlanta, where I finally discovered myself as an artist. I started Coral Monday to have a place for art I was making but kept it anonymous because I was unsure of my abilities at that time. It wasn’t until I started showing people and letting myself be seen even while “in process” that I realized that I was an artist and was creating art that others connected with. I think it was so valuable for me to move to a new city where no one knew me and have the time to establish who I was to set my career as an artist up well.

Now, I’m living in both Atlanta and LA, doing art full time and having a blast. I’ve been on a tattoo tour with an LA-based tattoo artist Joey Hill, have been doing murals (my fav) and getting to work with incredible brands like Free People, Tokyo Bike, LA Design Fest, and more.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work? I am very interested in exploring the human experience, including complex emotions, duality, moral dilemmas, and relationships. I like to explore visual (or written) metaphors to provide meaning for what I am experiencing. My biggest interest is how art intersects and affects life.

I get frustrated sometimes because I feel like, in the digital age, art can become consumable. It shouldn’t always be so easily digestible, sometimes it should take us a second to reflect and pause. I hope that people feel freedom and hope through my work. I experience most of my life on a deep level so it can make it hard for me to wade through it all. While I explore some elements of sadness and hardship, I hope that I can bring hope to myself and others through it.

Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists? I think that art is the most accessible it has ever been across all mediums. That is beneficial because artists now don’t have to wait to connect with an audience. If they are able to allow themselves to promote and sell their work, I think our consumer culture provides a rich avenue for people to make money doing art. On the flipside, art isn’t meant to necessarily be consumed. I hope that we can continue to make meaningful art in the midst of the rapid consumption of talent. I’m not the first to say this, but I think supporting your friends, encouraging (not competing), promoting and showing up for artists is the best thing individuals can do. Brands and other agencies can support all creatives by paying them what they deserve, honoring their talents and respecting their boundaries. Art is a necessary part of our lives and defines our culture, it shouldn’t be treated as insignificant or disposable.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork? Atlanta locals can visit murals that I have done at Brother Moto and at Field Day Every Day (opening soon). I also have shirts for sale at Coco + Mischa at Ponce City Market. Otherwise, Instagram is the best way to keep up with me and see the work that is being put out on a consistent basis!

My Instagram is @coralmonday.

People supporting my work means a lot to me and allows me to continue to create full-time. I am so grateful when people get a commission, buy a print or shirt (from my online store), or commission a mural or something for their brand from me.